First Lady Dolley Madison is credited with saving some of our nation's historical treasures. In 1814, when British troops landed in Maryland and headed toward the capital, Dolley kept calm and began loading important items into her carriage. Among them was a full-size portrait of George Washington. With no room to carry the huge portrait and no time to carefully remove it from the frame, she ordered it cut out with a knife. "f not possible, destroy it," she said. "Under no circumstance allow it to fall into the hands of the British" To be loved by God means we can completely trust in His power to protect and rescue us. Part of what it means to be God's treasured possession" (v. 4) is that He acts to save us. Psalm 135 uses the phrase as a shorthand way of referring to God's covenant relationship with Israel. The psalm begins with a call to praise (vv. 1-2), followed by at least four reasons for praise. First, God is worthy to be praised because of His goodness (v. 3). Second, because He has selected Israel for a special relationship (v. 4). The nation was a "treasured possession" not because it deserved to be, but solely because of God's choice. Third, we have to praise God because of His greatness (vv. 5-7). He is the powerful and sovereign Creator of the universe! Fourth and finally, God is worthy to be praised because of His saving actions in Israel's history, namely, liberating Israel from slavery in Egypt and bringing them to the promised land (vv. 8-12). Because God chose Israel, He acted to save them. Because He is all-powerful, His salvation is certain; and because He is perfectly good, we can entirely rely on His love. What an encouragement, and what a great reason for our praise and worship!